Overview
- DFS Secretary M. Nagaraju chaired a Nov. 13 meeting with insurers, hospitals, the General Insurance Council and AHPI focused on rising premiums and medical inflation.
- Officials pressed for standardised treatment protocols, common hospital empanelment norms and seamless cashless claim processing to improve affordability and access.
- The Centre also called for faster onboarding to the National Health Claims Exchange and quicker pre‑authorisations and claim approvals during hospitalisation.
- Participants included Apollo, Fortis, Max Healthcare, Bajaj Allianz, New India Assurance, Star Health, Niva Bupa and Oriental Insurance, alongside industry bodies.
- AHPI previously advised members to halt cashless services for Bajaj Allianz from Sept. 1 over reimbursement rates and had planned a CCI complaint, with sources indicating the advisory could be withdrawn if talks succeed.